News

Meetings of the Committee of the Whole, Peace River Regional Hospital District and Peace River Regional District Boards will be held beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2023 at the PRRD Office Boardroom located at 1981 Alaska Avenue in Dawson Creek, BC. Agendas may be viewed on the PRRD’s web page at www.prrd.bc.ca/agendas-minutes/

The Regional District understands that many people may not wish to attend in person, and has put in place additional processes to allow the public to continue to ‘be in the know’ about what’s happening at the Board meetings. Meetings are livestreamed via Facebook, and posted online after the meeting in case you miss it.

The PRRD will accept gallery questions and comments from the public, via email in advance, to tyra.henderson@prrd.bc.ca. Your comments and your name will be read out loud during the Gallery Questions and Comments portion of the meeting. Gallery comments are limited to items on the agenda, and each person has up to two minutes to share their views or pose questions for the Board’s consideration.

Please continue to watch the Board meetings livestreamed over Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPRRD/

The Peace River Regional District is accepting expressions of interest for a public appointee to represent the PRRD on the BC Hydro GO Fund Committee. The purpose of the fund is to reduce inequities through financial grants to local non-profit organizations that provide services to children, families and seniors. The program is targeted to support non-profit organizations serving the communities of Fort. St. John, Hudson’s Hope, Taylor, Chetwynd and residents of the Peace River Regional District (Electoral Areas B, C and E).

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Highlights from this issue include:

• Nomination period for Area C by-election open
• PRRD launches Aquatic Vegetation and Management study for Charlie Lake, Swan Lake and One Island Lake

The PRRD GIS system will undergo planned upgrades from Tuesday, January 17 to Wednesday, January 18.

The GIS department will be offline and the interactive web map will be unavailable during this period. If you have an urgent GIS request, please get in touch with Dawson Creek reception at 250-784-3200 or prrd.dc@prrd.bc.ca.

Thank you for your patience while we upgrade our system.

Meetings of the Committee of the Whole, Peace River Regional Hospital District and Peace River Regional District Boards will be held beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at the PRRD Office Boardroom located at 1981 Alaska Avenue in Dawson Creek, BC. Agendas may be viewed on the PRRD’s web page at www.prrd.bc.ca/agendas-minutes/

The Regional District understands that many people may not wish to attend in person, and has put in place additional processes to allow the public to continue to ‘be in the know’ about what’s happening at the Board meetings. Meetings are livestreamed via Facebook, and posted online after the meeting in case you miss it.

The PRRD will accept gallery questions and comments from the public, via email in advance, to tyra.henderson@prrd.bc.ca. Your comments and your name will be read out loud during the Gallery Questions and Comments portion of the meeting. Gallery comments are limited to items on the agenda, and each person has up to two minutes to share their views or pose questions for the Board’s consideration.

Please continue to watch the Board meetings livestreamed over Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPRRD/

The Peace River Regional District will be observing the following holiday hours:

Dawson Creek and Fort St. John offices will be CLOSED:

• Friday, December 23, 2022 (closed 1 – 4:30pm)
• Monday, December 26, 2022
• Tuesday, December 27, 2022
• Monday, January 2, 2023

Regional landfills and transfer stations will be CLOSED:

• Sunday, December 25, 2022
• Sunday, January 1, 2023

Happy holidays!

The Board of Directors and staff at the Peace River Regional District are extending their warmest wishes to you, the residents of this beautiful region, this holiday season.

As we look forward to gathering with family and friends to enjoy the magic of the season, the Board looks back on 2022 with pride. The Regional District and Hospital District has advanced many strategic priorities this year, and we look forward to continuing this important work into 2023.

We encourage residents to reach out to the Regional District, their Electoral Area Directors and Municipal Directors with their priorities, as we are here to serve you.

Today at 11am, the Regional Board and staff at the Peace River Regional District will observe a moment of silence to acknowledge the tragic loss of 14 young women at Polytechnique Montréal on December 6, 1989, in an act of violent misogyny. This event shook our Country and its people, and led Parliament to designate December 6 as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

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Meetings of the Committee of the Whole, Peace River Regional Hospital District and Peace River Regional District Boards will be held beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, December 9, 2022 at the PRRD Office Boardroom located at 1981 Alaska Avenue in Dawson Creek, BC.  Agendas may be viewed on the PRRD’s web page at www.prrd.bc.ca/agendas-minutes/

The Regional District understands that many people may not wish to attend in person, and has put in place additional processes to allow the public to continue to ‘be in the know’ about what’s happening at the Board meetings. Meetings are livestreamed via Facebook, and posted online after the meeting in case you miss it.

The PRRD will accept gallery questions and comments from the public, via email in advance, to tyra.henderson@prrd.bc.ca. Your comments and your name will be read out loud during the Gallery Questions and Comments portion of the meeting. Gallery comments are limited to items on the agenda, and each person has up to two minutes to share their views or pose questions for the Board’s consideration.

Please continue to watch the Board meetings livestreamed over Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPRRD/

The Regional Board has approved the 2023 Peace River Regional District Board and Committee Meeting schedule. The PRRD generally holds one to two Board meetings each month, typically held on Thursdays beginning at 10am, unless otherwise noted, with agendas posted on the website the Friday before the meeting date.

Board meetings are streamed live on the PRRD’s Facebook page.

View schedule

The Peace River Regional District is pleased to confirm the results of the election of Chair and Vice Chair of the Regional Board of Directors. Electoral Area D Director Leonard Hiebert will serve as Chair and Electoral Area E Director Dan Rose as Vice Chair, for a one-year term.

The appointments followed the procedural call for nominations at the Inaugural Meeting today in Dawson Creek, with voting conducted by secret ballot.

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On the Day of Remembrance (Armistice Day), we reflect on the tremendous sacrifices that members of Canada’s armed forces have made in the line of duty. On November 11 at 11am, we pause to commemorate the end of hostilities during the First World War, and hold in memoriam the Fallen who gave their lives to protect our freedoms.

The Regional Board and staff at the Peace River Regional District extend their gratitude to those who have served, and continue to serve our country.

The PRRD offices will be closed on Friday, November 11 to observe the statutory holiday, with regular hours resuming on Monday, November 14.
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The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) will relinquish its License of Occupation of Minaker River Park, located 0.4km west of Milepost 200 on the Alaska Highway, back to the Provincial government. The resolution was carried at the October 17, 2022 Regional Board meeting.

The PRRD provided notice to the Province in January 2022 that renewal of tenure for the recreational area known as Minaker River Regional Park was not required. The maintenance costs of the park are proportionately higher than other regional parks maintained by the Regional District, due to its remote location and challenging road access.
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NOTICE OF MEETING

 The Peace River Regional District Board will meet at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at the Pomeroy Hotel & Conference Centre located at 11308 Alaska Road in Fort St. John, BC.  Agendas may be viewed on the PRRD’s web page at www.prrd.bc.ca/agendas-minutes/

The Regional District understands that many people are unable to attend in person, and has put in place additional processes to allow the public to be ‘in the know’ about what’s happening at the Board meetings. Meetings are live streamed via Facebook, and posted online after the meeting in case you miss it.

The PRRD will accept gallery questions and comments from the public, via email in advance, to tyra.henderson@prrd.bc.ca. Your comments and your name will be read out loud during the Gallery Questions and Comments portion of the meeting. Gallery comments are limited to items on the agenda, and each person has up to two minutes to share their views or pose questions for the Board’s consideration.

Please continue to watch the Board meetings livestreamed over Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPRRD/

As authorized by Ministerial Order M285, Michael Fitzgerald’s candidacy for Electoral Area B Director has been withdrawn effective September 26, 2022. The candidates name will still appear in current printed public notices, but will no longer appear as an option on the voting ballots.

See more here.

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) is launching a new program called Seniors Aging in Place (SAIP) that will soon be available to residents aged 65 or older residing in Electoral Area D and eligible portions of Electoral Area E. Services offered through the SAIP program include fresh meal delivery, housekeeping, and snow removal between the months of November to March. These services will be delivered through the Dawson Creek Society for Community Living (DCSCL).

Eligible residents are encouraged to attend an upcoming information session to learn more about the SAIP program, which will be hosted throughout the region on the following dates:

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The Peace River Regional District offices will be closed on Monday, September 19 to honour the Day of Mourning proclaimed for Queen Elizabeth II. This day coincides with the late Queen’s state funeral in London, and will mark the end of the official period of mourning in Canada.

Regular hours will resume the following day (Tuesday, September 20).

*The PRRD Emergency Operations Centre will remain active to continue providing support for the Battleship Mountain and Bearhole Lake wildfires

The Peace River Regional District offices & the Charlie Lake Wastewater Treatment Facility will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2022 and will resume regular hours on Tuesday, September 6.

Thursday, September 8, 2022

Regional District Office

1981 Alaska Avenue, Dawson Creek BC

9:30 am

The Peace River Regional District hereby gives notice of its intention to hold a Special Meeting of the Rural Budgets Administration Committee, on Thursday, September 8, 2022 in the PRRD Office, at 1981 Alaska Avenue, Dawson Creek, BC.

The purpose of this meeting is to consider allocating funding for:

• storage of items from the Closed Golata Creek Hall; and
• conducting a hazardous materials assessment of the Golata Creek Hall.
• sponsorship for Northern Lights College Intercollegiate Rodeo.

The agenda will be available online at www.prrd.bc.ca.

Tyra Henderson

Corporate Officer

Click here for the full Meeting Notice

Eligible electors throughout the Peace region have the opportunity to vote on five new proposed service bylaws on October 5, 12 and 15, 2022 during the general local elections. Four of the assent votes are for regional services, which will impact both rural and municipal residents across the Peace River Regional District (PRRD), including Electoral Areas B, C, D, & E, and residents in Chetwynd, Dawson Creek, Fort St John, Tumbler Ridge, Taylor, Pouce Coupe and Hudson’s Hope. Region-wide, electors will automatically be asked to vote on the following proposed services by the PRRD, as part of the election process in their area:

• Dinosaur Museum Grant in Aid
• Global Geopark Grant in Aid
• Regional Connectivity
• Sports and Cultural Events Grant in Aid

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UPDATE: August 31, 2022, 4:08PM **The Blackfoot Park caretaker phone line has been restored**

The Blackfoot Park caretaker phone line is currently down due to technical difficulties. The line has been forwarded to the PRRD Head Office in Dawson Creek and residents can still make reservations by calling 250-759-4008; staff will take messages and forward them to the park caretaker for follow-up.

A repair is scheduled for Friday, September 2 and service is anticipated to resume shortly afterward. The PRRD will update residents through its website and social media platforms as updates become available.

In collaboration with the City of Fort St John and the District of Taylor, the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) has issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEOI) in order to identify lands that could be acquired as a site for a potential future recreation facility. This is the latest step taken by the North Peace Leisure Facility Replacement Steering Committee towards the completion of a feasibility study for a new facility. The intention of this step is to identify land available for sale or donation for the future home of the North Peace Leisure Facility.

The submission deadline for proposals is September 22, 2022 at 2:00 PM. Submissions will then be evaluated by the Committee and the Board of the PRRD. Further information about this opportunity can be viewed online here.

This step has come after the Committee completed extensive community engagement throughout the North Peace Region earlier this year and we are pleased to announce that the 2022 Engagement Summary Report is now available on the PRRD website.  For more information about this project or to view the latest engagement report, please visit the North Peace Leisure Facility Replacement Project page at haveyoursay.prrd.bc.ca/nplf or contact the PRRD office for more information.

The Peace River Regional District will be disposing of surplus and unused assets, and posting the items for sale on the Government Surplus Auction website, www.govdeals.ca.

For more information, review the below bulletin:

In 2021, the Peace River Regional District embarked on the development of a corporate asset management plan.  As an important first step in that process, the PRRD conducted facility condition assessments on all Regional District-owned facilities, including the Golata Creek Community Hall. Due to concerns identified in that initial assessment, a professional engineering firm conducted a structural assessment on the Golata Creek Community Hall.

Unfortunately, the engineers identified that the 64-year-old building is structurally unsafe and has reached the end of its life. Further, the engineering firm recommended to the Regional District that the building no longer be used due to structural issues with the roof and foundation, and the prohibitive cost to remediate these issues. Following the assessment, the PRRD is making the decision to close the Golata Creek Community Hall immediately and indefinitely.

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The Regional Board and staff at the Peace River Regional District would like to wish you and your families a happy Canada Day.

As we celebrate our country and the beauty of the Peace region, we would also like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional territory of the Dane-zaa, signatories of Treaty 8 and the Metis Nation BC Region 7. We value the significant contributions of Indigenous Peoples who have lived and worked on the land for time immemorial and are committed to reflecting and learning the truths. We hope you have a wonderful day connecting with your communities and enjoying all that our vast region has to offer.

The PRRD offices and Charlie Lake wastewater treatment facility are closed on Friday, July 1 and will resume regular hours on Monday, July 4th.

The PRRD is an organization that appreciates cultures in all its forms. We value respect, trust, care and transparency and will act in accordance with these values. We seek to understand each other’s cultures and worldviews in order to enhance inclusion, trust and relationships.

North Peace residents are encouraged to provide their opinions on a proposed new regional aquatics and recreation facility, which would replace the existing North Peace Leisure Pool.

Residents can voice their opinions by:

• attending an in-person open house on Tuesday, June 7 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the North Peace Leisure Pool;
• participating in a virtual open house on Thursday, June 9 at 7 p.m.; and
• completing an online survey from June 7 to July 7.

For more details on how to participate, visit haveyoursay.prrd.bc.ca/nplf

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May 31, 2022 – As another wildfire season approaches, the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) has partnered with local wildfire experts to deliver the message: Get FireSmart! Protect your home, protect your community.

The Peace region is one of the most diverse and abundant ecosystems on earth. Yet, the area is particularly vulnerable to wildfires, with the wildfire season often happening earlier and lasting longer. To reduce the risk of loss of life and property, the PRRD has partnered with Mammoth Forestry Ltd. – a local consulting firm with expertise in wildfire management – to launch the FireSmart BC campaign.

Since 2021, the campaign has had significant results in reducing the impact of wildfire on the residents of the regional district. 122 FireSmart Assessments were completed, 101 homes in rural areas were assessed, and the One Island Lake Cottage Association became the Peace Region’s first recognized FireSmart neighborhood!

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The Chetwynd Public Library project will mark a milestone on June 3, when shovels hit the site of the new library grounds for the first time. The event will also commemorate the life of Yvonne Elden, a tireless community leader in Chetwynd who was instrumental in establishing the first library as a member of the Little Prairie Ladies Club.

The existing library is a revered community fixture in Chetwynd and the surrounding area, providing services and programs to locals since 1959. In 2016, at the request of the District of Chetwynd and the Chetwynd Library Board, the Peace River Regional District went to work examining options for repair or replacement. The results of that effort included the formation of the current Library Advisory Committee and a feasibility study recommending a new build. After an extensive analysis and public engagement process that spanned three years, Faction Projects Inc. (formerly Field Lievers Architecture) will take the community-approved designs to the build stage with the help of Celtic Construction of Dawson Creek BC.

With the final design clocking in at approximately 8,600 square feet versus the current 7,100, the new facility provides a much-needed storage and accessibility upgrade, with room to meet the current and future needs of the community. In addition to the services and spaces that the community has grown to love, the new library will boast a suite of exciting new features. Among them, include a storytelling space, children’s program room, teen seating area, makerspace and virtual reality room, multi-purpose room and an outdoor patio with views of the skate park. The patrons of the new Chetwynd Public Library can also look forward to enjoying the café in a 20-person open seating area and food preparation space.

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The Peace River Regional District would like to acknowledge Moose Hide Campaign Day, a day of ceremony and collective action to end violence towards women and children. Over 400,000 Canadians have registered to join the ceremony today and take the pledge to End Violence.

One of the strategic focus areas for the PRRD, is to enhance the effectiveness of our service delivery and advocacy through the pursuit of local, regional and inter-provincial partnerships; collaboration with our First Nations partners is critical to the success of this goal. It is vital that we have a collective voice on important issues like the ones that are being highlighted by Moose Hide Campaign Day.

The PRRD encourages everyone to take some time to participate in the virtual events today at: https://events.moosehidecampaign.ca/.

Today is Red Dress Day. A National Day of Awareness and Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2S (Two-Spirit) peoples, first established by Indigenous artist Jamie Black.

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The Regional Board has deferred its decision on recommended changes to the North Peace Fall Fair Use and Occupancy License Agreement for the Adeline Kelly building, as outlined in a recent staff report to the Board. The North Peace Fall Fair (NPFF) Society submitted a building permit application to the PRRD in 2021 for a proposed addition to the building, with plans to incorporate a kitchen, washrooms and other community hall space. The addition would be a departure from its existing permitted use as an
F-2 Medium Industrial Hazard building under the BC Building Code.

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Meetings of the Committee of the Whole, Peace River Regional District Board and Peace River Regional Hospital District Board will be held beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 10, 2022 at the PRRD Office Boardroom at 1981 Alaska Avenue in Dawson Creek.  The Board will consider first three readings of the PRRD 2022-2026 Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw. Agendas may be viewed on the PRRD’s web page at www.prrd.bc.ca/agendas-minutes/

Members of the public attending Board meetings will be required to sanitize their hands, and maintain physical distancing. To assist us in our safety planning please email to let us know that you will be attending, or call the office at 250-784-3200. The Regional District understands that many people may not wish to attend in person, and has put in place additional processes to allow the public to continue to ‘be in the know’ about what’s happening at the Board meetings. Meetings are livestreamed via Facebook, and posted online after the meeting in case you miss it.

The PRRD will accept gallery questions and comments from the public, via email in advance, to the Corporate Officer. Your comments and your name will be read out loud during the Gallery Questions and Comments portion of the meeting. Gallery comments are limited to items on the agenda (except planning applications with public hearings), and each person has up to two minutes to share their views or pose questions for the Board’s consideration.

To follow social distancing requirements, please continue to watch the Board meetings livestreamed over Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPRRD/

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) is working with the Northeast BC Community Foundation to raise funds from the community to help with the construction of the new library in Chetwynd.

With shovels due in the ground this spring for the Chetwynd Public Library replacement project, the PRRD Board of Directors has authorized the creation of a fund for donations from the community. Funding for the project is coming from a combination of other sources, including the PRRD’s Electoral Area E, the District of Chetwynd, the Chetwynd Public Library Board, grants and short-term borrowing.

“The new library will be a cornerstone of our community. It’s our hope that generous members of the community will find a way to support this vitally important project, which provides so many educational and social benefits to people of all ages in Chetwynd and surrounding areas,” says Dan Rose, Director of Electoral Area E. “We’re grateful to the Northeast BC Community Foundation for allowing us to use their online fundraising platform, which makes it very simple for people who wish to donate.”

To donate, go to nebccf.ca.

Final designs are now approved after input from the public, stakeholders and library staff gathered over several years. The current library is approximately 50 years old, too old to renovate and too small to offer the programming and services that the people of Chetwynd want.

With more vacancies than qualified staff to fill them in the Peace region, the Peace River Regional District’s (PRRD) health care scholarships are lending a financial hand to people who want to become health care workers.

The PRRD’s health care scholarships make it easier for people to pursue studies in health care studies. Health care positions are secure, well paid and rewarding, but most positions require successful completion of a college or university program.

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The Fort St. John office will be open for walk-ins on Monday, February 14, and Friday, February 18; however all financial payments need to be made at the Dawson Creek office or via telephone at 250-784-3200 on these days.

The Peace River Regional District thanks residents for their cooperation.

Please be advised that the following changes have been made to the 2022 Board Meeting Schedule:

• March 10th – The meeting will be held in Dawson Creek, not Fort St John as previously advertised
• March 24th – Meeting cancelled
• March 31st – New meeting
• April 7th – Meeting cancelled

Click here to view the revised 2022 Board Meeting Schedule.

It’s a trend happening across rural BC: the skilled and dedicated volunteers running rural fire departments are turning to local governments for help as firefighting becomes more complex, training costs rise, and volunteer recruitment is more challenging.

The Moberly Lake Volunteer Fire Department (MLVFD) is no exception and in 2021 the society running the department proposed a transition to a service operated by the PRRD. The PRRD Board of Directors supported the change, and amended the service delivery model from providing funding to the volunteer society to a direct service delivery model. Effective January 1, 2022, the PRRD operates and manages the MLVFD.

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The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) is pleased to welcome Roxanne Shepherd as its Chief Financial Officer. Shepherd brings fifteen years of local government experience to the PRRD and will join the organization in early January 2022.

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The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) Board of Directors reaffirmed its commitment to reconciliation with First Nations at its Regional Board meeting yesterday.

“We are committed to the process of reconciliation with First Nations, and our focus on collaboration with First Nations is outlined in the PRRD’s strategic plan,” says PRRD Board Chair Brad Sperling. “We will continue to work with our First Nations neighbours and friends on a better future for them and for all who live in the Peace River Regional District. I believe, and my colleagues on the Regional Board believe, that we must all do better.”

The issue of reconciliation came up at the Regional Board meeting when members unanimously resolved to send letters of support to Chief Willie Sellars of the Williams Lake Indian Band of the Secwepemc Nation and to the Cariboo Regional District, both of whom made strong public statements in light of events earlier this week involving the mayor of Williams Lake. The PRRD’s letters of support will express disagreement with the viewpoint shared regarding the impact of residential schools.

“We stand with the Cariboo Regional District in rejecting the viewpoint that there is some good in the history of residential schools,” says Sperling.

The letters will also advise that the PRRD is committed to the principles and practices of reconciliation as critical to the path to healing amongst all people.

Clipping, raking, bundling and hauling a summer’s worth of yard waste is worthwhile chore.

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) Fall Clean-up makes it easy for you to dispose of your unwanted waste at no charge for a two-week period.

Tipping fees are waived at PRRD landfills and waste transfer stations from October 4 to 17 for residents who want to dispose of self-hauled yard and sorted waste from residential properties. (more…)

A Committee of the Whole meeting of the Peace River Regional District Board will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 9, 2021, at the PRRD Office Boardroom at 1981 Alaska Avenue in Dawson Creek. The regular meeting of the Peace River Regional District Board will follow immediately.

As of August 25, 2021, masks are mandatory in indoor public spaces; Board meeting attendees will be required to wear a mask.

As space is limited and to assist us in our safety planning, please email to let us know that you will be attending, or call the office at 250-784-3200.

 The Board’s full agendas may be viewed on the PRRD’s web page under the Agendas/Minutes tab.

 Please continue to watch the meetings livestreamed over Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPRRD/

Effective at 12 noon on Tuesday, September 7, Category 2 and Category 3 open fires will be permitted throughout the Northwest and Prince George Fire Centres. Fireworks, including firecrackers; and sky lanterns will also be permitted.

A map of the Prince George Fire Centre (PGFC) is available online here. (more…)

You don’t have to be a kid to want to climb aboard a modern fire engine and take a look around, and this Saturday’s Charlie Lake Fire Department (CLFD) open house is your chance.

The CLFD took possession of a new tender, engine and support vehicle in 2020, and Saturday’s open house is a chance to show people the firefighting equipment that helps to protect lives and property in the Charlie Lake Fire Protection Area, says CLFD Fire Chief Ed Albury.

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The Provincial Health Officer has issued an order effective today, August 25, that requires masks in all public indoor settings for all people born in 2009 or earlier (12+). To comply with this order, masks are required to be worn to enter all Peace River Regional District facilities, as they are public spaces.
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The Charlie Lake Fire Department (CLFD) is sending a second crew to southern BC to help fight forest fires.

Volunteer firefighters Jason Mukjiha and Kyle Winters were deployed to the BC Wildfire Service’s Kamloops office and began working yesterday on an eight-day rotation to help fight a fire near Falkland, a town midway between Kamloops and Vernon.

The first CLFD crew, deployed in early August, arrived back in Fort St. John today after fighting fires in the Osoyoos and Falkland area. “The crew performed exceptionally well in challenging circumstances,” says CLFD Chief Edward Albury. “They are pleased that they could help out communities that are in dire need of assistance.”

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The proposed Gotta Go service will go ahead after receiving elector consent through an Alternative Approval Process that finished on Friday, July 30.

The Gotta Go service will allow the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) to partner with the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Public Services & Procurement Canada, Northern BC Tourism Association and other agencies to build, operate and maintain wheelchair-accessible washroom amenities, picnic benches, tourist information kiosks, signage for safety and emergency management, and cell phone services in two Alaska Highway pullouts – Sikanni Brake Check at km 250, and Steamboat at km 536. (more…)

The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development BC Wildfire Service has issued a rescind on the campfire ban for the Prince George and Northwest Fire Centres, effective Wednesday, July 28 2021 at 12:00 noon PDT. 

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A newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between West Moberly First Nations and the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) Board lays out how they will work together on common issues and communication processes in a spirit of cooperation, trust and respect.

“We are excited about entering into an MOU with the PRRD. We have been neighbours with each other for a long time,” says Chief Roland Willson of West Moberly First Nations. “We share many concerns, ideas and have similar wants and needs, so a MOU seems the next logical step moving forward.” (more…)

Today we pay special recognition to the vital contributions that Indigenous peoples make to the Peace region. We invite all people of this region to learn about the rich cultures, traditions and languages of the Indigenous peoples of this area, whose traditional lands we live on.

It’s also important to acknowledge that we continue to have tragic reminders of the systemic racism and terrible injustices which Indigenous people have suffered over the years in this country. Today is an opportunity to recognize that we have a long way to go on the journey to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. We need to work together to take all concrete actions that we can to move along that path.

The Peace River Regional District is committed to working with Indigenous peoples of this area in a spirit of respect, cooperation and partnership, and to do all we can to make this region a better place for them and for all people, today and every day.

A June 15 virtual town hall meeting hosted by Peace River Regional District (PRRD) was briefly disrupted by a participant who posted racist and profane language on the screen during a staff presentation. PRRD staff immediately stopped the meeting, reset the presentation and readmitted some participants. The meeting continued without incident.

Racist language and behavior is not tolerated by the PRRD in any setting, says Board Chair Brad Sperling. “We reject racist or hateful language or behavior of any sort, and our Board created a specific policy to that effect. We apologize to any of the meeting participants that saw this offensive language or have been affected by this unfortunate incident.”

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Sawyer’s Subdivision, Red Creek South, Bear Flats and South Montney included in proposal

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) is consulting with residents in parts of Electoral Areas B and C on the proposed expansion of the Charlie Lake Fire Protection Area to include some 175 properties in Sawyer’s Subdivision, Red Creek South, Bear Flats and South Montney. The new service would be provided by the Charlie Lake Fire Department.

Residents are invited to one of two virtual town halls on June 15 to get information and ask questions about the proposed expansion. The meeting for Electoral Area C residents takes place at 5pm, and for Electoral Area B residents at 7pm.

“The Peace region has seen some serious wildfires in the area in recent years, especially in 2016, and some residents have asked the PRRD to consider expanding Charlie Lake’s fire service to include these new areas,” says PRRD Board Chair Brad Sperling. “These engagement meetings and our online engagement process are intended to help us understand the level of support for the proposed service and what questions people have. The Regional Board needs this information to make a decision on the bylaw amendment that this proposal would require.” (more…)

The Peace River Regional District Board will be considering its draft 2020 Financial Statements at its meeting scheduled on Thursday, June 24, 2021. The meeting begins at 10am.

Board meetings are currently closed to the public due to COVID-19, but members of the public are invited to watch the meeting on Facebook at this link.

The statements are available for inspection, during regular business hours, at the Peace River Regional District office located at 1981 Alaska Avenue in Dawson Creek, or the Fort St. John office at 9505 100th Street.

For more information, contact Teri Vetter, Chief Financial Officer, at 250-784-3219 or toll-free at 1-800-670-7773.

Many people in the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) live in the wildland/urban interface – the areas where forest and grassland are interspersed with homes and buildings. The risk of loss of life and property from wildfire in those areas can be very high, especially with the threat of wildfire in BC increasing each year.

The PRRD is rolling out a regional FireSmart program that will help identify high-risk properties and neighbourhoods and help the people in them understand and reduce the risk of damage or loss from wildfire.

“The Peace region is particularly vulnerable to wildfires, which often happen earlier and last longer here,” says PRRD Board Chair Brad Sperling. “Taking a proactive approach is shown to reduce the risk of losses in the most extreme wildfire conditions.” (more…)

Dawson Creek South, Briar Ridge and Riley’s Crossing included in proposal

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) is consulting with residents of Dawson Creek South, Briar Ridge and Riley’s Crossing on a proposal to expand the Dawson Creek Fire Protection Area to include some 337 properties in those three areas.

Residents are invited to a virtual town hall on June 9 to get information and ask questions. The proposal would expand the Dawson Creek Fire Department’s fire protection services to include the three new areas.

“Residents of those areas have been asking the PRRD and City of Dawson Creek to consider a service expansion for several years,” says PRRD Board Chair Brad Sperling. “This is only a proposal at this point. We know some residents support the idea, but we really need to hear from as many people as possible in this engagement process before the Regional Board can make a decision on the bylaw amendment that this proposal would require.”

If the Regional Board provides consent, the new service would be paid for by a tax on property owners in the three areas. (more…)

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) Spring Clean-up makes it easy for residents to dispose of self-hauled yard waste and sorted waste that comes from residential properties. From May 31 to June 13, tipping fees are waived at PRRD landfills and waste transfer stations.

“The Spring Clean-up event gives residents a financial incentive to clean up your property. You still have to cut it and rake it and shovel it and haul it to us, but once you do that, it’s free to leave it with us,” says PRRD board chair Brad Sperling. (more…)

The Peace River Regional District is introducing a reservation system and fees to camp at Blackfoot Regional Park beginning May 27.

In a 2018 study, the PRRD asked residents for their input on the future of the park and the possibility of paying to camp. The study found that park users wanted enhanced features like sites with electrical hook-ups and walking trails, and that most campers would be willing to pay a fee for access to those services.

“Blackfoot Regional Park is a beautiful area of the Peace region,” says Peace River Regional District board chair Brad Sperling. “The changes and improvements we’re making there are in response to residents’ and park users’ wishes to see improvements at the park, and to know that they can book some campsites in advance to be assured of having a spot.” (more…)

Pursuant to Section 286 of the Local Government Act, notice is hereby given that the Peace River Regional District intends to sell property located at 9800 – 17^th Street, Parcel Identifier 005-017-718.

Please see the Disposition of Property for more information.

The Peace River Regional District, for the second year in a row, has been awarded the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its 2019 annual financial report. The Canadian Award for Financial Reporting Program was established to encourage municipal governments throughout Canada to publish high-quality financial reports and to provide peer recognition and technical guidance for officials preparing these reports. Its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. (more…)

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) is asking residents to talk trash as it continues with public consultation on the update of its regional solid waste management plan.

Residents, businesses and industry representatives are invited to attend a virtual open house, fill out a survey, ask questions and offer opinions, says PRRD board chair Brad Sperling. “The PRRD wants all the input we can get as we finish updating the plan in 2021. Effective management of solid waste is a positive for people, businesses and industries in the PRRD. With residents’ help and input, we can create a strong solid waste management plan that addresses local issues and sets out waste reduction goals for the next 15 years.”

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The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) board has approved a 7.13 per cent budget reduction for 2021. The PRRD’s overall budget for all service functions is $88,898,920, a decrease of $6,820,243 from 2020.

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Montney Centennial Regional Park will be part of a day-use pilot project starting in spring 2021. Over this three-year period the park will be available for day-use exclusive activities. The project was approved to accommodate much needed upgrades to the park including the development of trails, installing a picnic shelter, installing a fishing dock, updated signage and improvements to walkways and outhouses.

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The Peace River Regional District has partnered with Clear Course Consulting Ltd. to offer free virtual information sessions for community groups to learn more about the Grant Writer Services Program.

If you are interested in understanding how grants work, turning project ideas into grant applications, searching for grants and understanding types of funders and grants the PRRD encourages you to attend one of the two sessions being offered.

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Following the landslides of 2018 and 2020 which affected access to the community of Old Fort, the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) committed to providing residents with a comprehensive report to identify and characterize any hazards and risks from nearby steep slopes and guide future development approvals. The report was to be completed by Tetra Tech, a leading provider of engineering services worldwide.

On October 26, 2020, the PRRD announced that it would release the Tetra Tech report in the first quarter of 2021. On January 19, 2021, the PRRD, along with others, was sued by residents of the Old Fort community. On the advice of the PRRD’s legal counsel, Tetra Tech’s work on the report has been paused while legal counsel reviews and responds to the lawsuit. Given the nature of this ongoing litigation, the PRRD cannot commit to a date for the release of the Tetra Tech report. The PRRD will not be making any further statement or comment on this matter at this time.

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) is planning how to use a combined $1,084,000 received in 2020 and earlier this week under the provincial government’s COVID-19 Safe Restart Grants for Local Governments program.
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March 4, 2021 — The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) Electoral Area Directors Committee is recommending that the PRRD Regional Board authorize closure and ceasing of operations of the Rose Prairie potable water bulk fill station at its upcoming March 11 meeting.

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Northern Health has announced that it is completing Phase 1 immunizations this month, and moving into vaccinations for Phase 2.

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The PRRD’s Rose Prairie water station will not open tomorrow (Monday, February 22) as planned because of unforeseen technical problems. We apologize for the inconvenience and delay; we will open the station as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

We are aware of the social media post by Lorraine Michetti, who is a member of the Peace River Regional District Board of Directors. As Chair of the Board of Directors, I wish to clearly state that we find the sentiment in the post deeply troubling. This was posted to a personal Facebook account. The post does not in any way reflect the views of the Peace River Regional District and we wholeheartedly reject the message contained in it.

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A letter asking for the highest level of consideration set out in the ‘Environmental Assessment Certificate and Exemption Order Amendment Policy’ has been sent to the BC Environmental Assessment Office from PRRD Chair Brad Sperling. The Chair advocates for a paced process to allow for meaningful input, research and analysis and fair consideration of all input concerning the plan to haul material by truck from 85^th Avenue to the Site C Project dam site.

Read the letter here

Please be advised that until further notice the PRRD Share Sheds will be closed to help flatten the curve of COVID-19.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.  If you have any questions please call the PRRD at 250-784-3200 or toll free at 1-800-670-7773

The Peace River Regional District released a letter sent to the parties with candidates running in the upcoming BC election asking for assistance to negotiate a community measures agreement to mitigate the impacts of Site C on regional district residents and services.

Letters were sent to candidates and parties in the Peace River North and South ridings on October 16, 2020. The PRRD Board of Directors looks forward to hearing from candidates on their parties’ views ahead of the October 24 BC provincial election.

For more information:

Click here to read Letter to Candidates

Click here to read the Media Release

Click here to read PRRD Site C Community Measures Agreement Background Information

The City of Fort St. John and the Peace River Regional District have been working in partnership towards an adjustment of property lines for the Festival Plaza Development.

The Festival Plaza, which will be located on the southeast corner of 100 Street and 96 Avenue, was identified in the Downtown Action Plan as one of 10 Big Moves to Energize the Downtown. The development will consist of a covered shelter, food truck stalls, performance space and washrooms. It will be a year-round home for the farmers market, community events, food vendors, buskers, social gatherings and public art.

The Peace River Regional District will be placing public notices as per the requirements of the Local Government Act regarding the disposition of this property.

Construction on this project is slated to begin in Summer 2020, stay up-to-date with all City of Fort St. John Capital Projects at www.fortstjohn.ca/capital-projects.

To see the full press release, please click the link below.

Media Release – City and PRRD Announce Agreement for Festival Plaza Lands

The Peace River Regional District is pleased to release the 2019 Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP) report.

Click here to read the report

PRRD offices are now open to the public with new procedures to keep both the public and our staff safe!

Quick Reference Guides

Camping and Recreating in PRRD Parks

Operating a PRRD-owned Community Facility

Renting a PRRD-owned Community Facility

Using PRRD Water Stations

Taking Items to Landfills and Transfer Stations

Making a Development Application

Using the Charlie Lake Sewer Receiving Facility

Attending a Board or Committee Meeting

Frequently Asked Questions About PRRD Operations

How do I speak to or make an appointment with staff?

Peace River Regional District offices are now open for their regular office hours. To speak to one of our staff, the public is welcome to come to our offices during business hours or may also use our staff directory to reach any of our staff members.

What are the PRRD Office COVID procedures?

The PRRD has introduced safety procedures to ensure that everyone who visits our office are as safe as possible. These procedures include:

• Everyone entering PRRD facilities must wear a mask, including staff
• Everyone entering PRRD facilities must sanitize their hands when they come in.
• Each room, including meeting rooms and reception areas, have a maximum occupancy to ensure we are able to follow social distancing. If the occupancy is exceeded, please wait outside until someone exits.
• An information log will be kept of all people to enter PRRD offices to help with contact tracing should someone who has been in our offices discover they have COVID-19.

How many people are allowed in PRRD Offices?

The number of people allowed in a room/building has been determined by the size and ability to ensure physical distancing (staying a minimum of two metres or six feet apart).

• The maximum number of public members permitted in the Fort St John Office Reception Area: 2
• The maximum number of public public members permitted in the Dawson Creek Office Reception Area: 3 

When will PRRD facilities be opening?

As all of BC begins to implement the BC Restart Plan, the Peace River Regional District will be taking steps towards recovery with the new PRRD COVID Recovery Plan. We are currently in Phase Two of the PRRD Recovery Plan, which sees a number of facilities open.

Phase 1 (Mid – Late May 2020)

Staff resume work in Dawson Creek and Fort St John offices Montney Centennial Park and Iver Johnson Park opens for day-use only

Phase 2 ( June to September 2020)

PRRD offices open to the public Charlie Lake Fire members resume in-person training with conditions PRRD community halls may resume maintenance and cleaning activities with conditions. Essential public hearings, on a case by case basis, may resume in-person if electronic options are not available and if ap propriate meeting venues and sanitization requirements can be met Blackfoot Regional Park opens for camping. Share Sheds Open (as of June 15)   Minaker River Regional Park opens for camping PRRD will consider, on a case by case basis, community halls holding small events with less than 50 people (starting in July)   Chetwynd Recreation Centre and North Peace Leisure Pool will open under the direction of the municipalities. Buick and Clearview Arenas will open at the direction of School District No 60 Essential in-region travel

Phase 3 (TBD)

Date to be determined dependent on public health, social and economic factors to be examined starting in August 2020 Non-essential meetings Public engagement activities In-person engagement with First Nations communities Out-of-region travel

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The PRRD is continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation. We encourage residents to stay up to date and continue to follow the provincial and federal Government guidelines as the official sources for new information. Below are some resources that may be helpful for residents:

BC Centre for Disease Control    |  Website    Facebook

Northern Health    |  Website    Facebook

Northern BC Information Line: 1-844-645-7811

Government of Canada – Public Health    |   Website     Facebook

Health Link BC (BC Ministry of Health)    |   Website     Facebook

First Nations Health Authority    |   Website     Facebook

BC 211    |   Website     Facebook

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The Partnership Agreement between the Province of BC, Government of Canada, Saulteau First Nations, and West Moberly First Nations for the recovery of southern mountain caribou was signed on Friday, February 21, 2020.

Read More: Southern Mtn. Caribou Partnership Agreement Signed

At the January 23rd Board Meeting, the PRRD Board received a response to their December 13th Letter from Premier John Horgan and resolved:

That the Regional Board support the District of Chetwynd by advising the Honourable John Horgan, Premier of BC, that it will not participate in the following scheduled caribou related working group meetings:

• Snowmobile Advisory Committee (January 23, 2020 in Dawson Creek)
• Land Use Objectives Stakeholder Committee & Socio-Economic Advisory Committee (January 24, 2020 in Chetwynd) unless local government is awarded a seat on the Caribou Recovery Committee specified in the Partnership Agreement to Recover the Central Group of Southern Mountain Caribou, or a meeting of the Leaders’ Table is called and local government is provided information that local government will be provided the opportunity to participate in the Partnership Agreement, other than through separate advisory committees.

This resolution was sent in a letter to Premier John Horgan on January 23rd, 2020.

Notice on Production Insurance – Unharvested Grain and Canola Crops from the Ministry of Agriculture

October 24th, 2019

Dear Premier Horgan:

Re: Leaders’ Table re: Caribou

On October 10^th, the Peace River Regional District wrote to you to express extreme disappointment that the Board did not receive an invitation to participate in the proposed Leaders’ Table regarding the Draft Intergovernmental Partnership Agreement for the Conservation of the Central Group of the Southern Mountain Caribou. . . .

Click Here to Read the Full Letter

Click here to read the letter from Chair Brad Sperling on behalf of the PRRD Board to Hon. Minister McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Hon. Minister Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, regarding the community division caused by the Southern Mountain Caribou engagement process. 

The Peace River Regional District continues to advocate for an open conversation between the public and the Province regarding the status of the discussions about caribou recovery.

In a letter to Chair Brad Sperling, Minister George Heyman confirmed that the government is committed to advancing caribou recovery, while seeking to provide for the best interests of British Columbians. He noted that to help this iconic species recover, there needs to be a collaborative approach that works for everyone, and that as the Provincial Government moves forward with caribou recovery, BC will be looking at the impacts of all land uses.

Since the meeting in Prince George with the Province, Chair Sperling has continued to be in contact with the province as they work with the Federal government to roll out the consultation to the region. Chair Sperling has requested that a minimum of three public consultations be held in the region. He would like to see meetings held in Chetwynd, Dawson Creek and Fort St. John.

Full Media release here: 2019-15-2019 Caribou Press release